Bladeless fan for commercial applications

ABSTRACT

A bladeless fan comprising a ring-shaped chamber extending longitudinally and defining a suctioned air passage having a main-flow inlet and a main-flow outlet; a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receive compressed gas and to provide the compressed gas to the ring-shaped chamber; and a proximal row of channels radially distributed about the suctioned air passage. The channels provide a fluid connection for the compressed gas from the ring-shaped chamber to the suctioned air passage thereby generating a pressure differential along the suctioned air passage and forcing a flow of gas from the main-flow inlet to the main-flow outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication 63/087,973 filed Oct. 6, 2020, the specification of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND (a) Field

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to a fan. Morespecifically, it relates to a bladeless fan for moving air in commercialand industrial applications.

(b) Related Prior Art

There are various types of fans, which all serve the purpose of pushingair (or gas) to generate a flow of air, either for air circulation in aroom or for evacuating warm air, for example.

From a general point of view, these fans consume space and energy, whichcan become problematic for uses such as computer systems, which requirefans to evacuate warm air, or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and airconditioning) systems, which consume a lot of power in a building.

Furthermore, fans producing higher cubic feet per minute (CFM) arealways in demand and, more so, fans offering better power consumptionratio (CFM per Watt or CFM/W). Such using high efficiency fans,especially in commercial and industrial applications, result in loweringpower consumption and costs.

Moreover, fans are mechanical apparatuses, and as such, comprisemechanical parts which are prompt to occasional failure.

In view of this context, it is possible to propose solutions that areimprovements over the existing axial fans which use blades that rotatearound an axis to draw air in parallel to that axis and force air out inthe same direction.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there is provided a bladeless fancomprising: a ring-shaped chamber extending longitudinally and defininga suctioned air passage having a main-flow inlet and a main-flow outlet;a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receive compressed gas and to providethe compressed gas to the ring-shaped chamber; and a proximal row ofchannels radially distributed about the suctioned air passage whereinthe channels provide a fluid connection for the compressed gas from thering-shaped chamber to the suctioned air passage thereby generating apressure differential along the suctioned air passage and forcing a flowof gas from the main-flow inlet to the main-flow outlet, further whereinthe proximal row of channels is closer to the main-flow inlet than tothe main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, the ring-shaped chamber comprises an inner facehaving an airfoil profile where a diameter of the suctioned air passagenear the main-flow inlet is smaller than a diameter of the suctioned airpassage near the main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, the channels have a downstream angle greaterthan zero (0) degrees.

According to an aspect, the channels have a swirling angle greater thanzero (0) degrees.

According to an aspect, the bladeless fan further comprises a source ofcompressed gas connected to the compressed-gas inlet.

According to an aspect, the source of compressed gas comprises a gascylinder.

According to an aspect, the source of compressed gas comprises acompressor.

According to an aspect, the bladeless fan further comprises anadditional row of channels, wherein the additional row is locatedfarther from the main-flow inlet than the proximal row of channels.

According to an aspect, the compressed-gas inlet is closer to theproximal row of channels than to the additional row of channels.

According to an aspect, the channels of the additional row have across-section area greater than the cross-section area of the channelsof the proximal row.

According to an aspect, the channels of the proximal row of channelshave a first swirling angle, the channels of the additional row ofchannels have a second swirling angle, and the first swirling angle isgreater than the second swirling angle.

According to an aspect, the proximal row of channels comprises at leastthree channels distant from each other and where the at least threechannels are within a gas inlet plane perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis.

According to an aspect, the proximal row of channels is longitudinallydistant from the main-flow inlet.

According to an aspect, the compressed-gas inlet is closer to themain-flow inlet than to the main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, the suctioned air passage has a cylindricalshape.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a bladeless fan assemblyfor accelerating a flow of gas in a lumen of a heating, ventilation, andair conditioning (HVAC) system, the lumen having an inner face, thebladeless fan assembly comprising: a ring-shaped chamber extendinglongitudinally and defining a suctioned air passage having a main-flowinlet and a main-flow outlet; a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receivecompressed gas and to provide the compressed gas to the ring-shapedchamber; a proximal row of channels radially distributed about thesuctioned air passage wherein the channels provide a fluid connectionfor the compressed gas from the ring-shaped chamber to the suctioned airpassage thereby generating a pressure differential along the suctionedair passage and accelerating a first portion of the flow of gas from themain-flow inlet to the main-flow outlet; and at least one bracketadapted to mount the ring-shaped chamber to the inner face of the lumenof the HVAC system, wherein a second portion of the flow of gas travelsbetween the inner face of the HVAC system and the ring-shaped chamber,whereby the first portion and the second portion of the flow of gas mixdownstream of the ring-shaped chamber to generate an accelerated flow ofgas.

According to an aspect, the at least one bracket has an airfoil shapeperpendicular to the second portion of the flow of gas.

According to an aspect, the ring-shaped chamber has an inner walldelimiting the suctioned air passage and an external wall opposite thesuctioned air passage, wherein the inner wall and the external wall forma cylindrically shaped airfoil.

According to an aspect, the bladeless fan assembly further comprises asource of compressed gas connected to the compressed-gas inlet, whereinthe source of compressed gas is located outside the lumen.

According to an aspect, the bladeless fan assembly further comprises anupstream inlet located within the lumen, the upstream inlet being fedwith compressed gas which in turn feeds the ring-shaped chamber.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a bladeless fancomprising: a ring-shaped chamber extending longitudinally and defininga suctioned air passage having a main-flow inlet and a main-flow outlet;a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receive compressed gas and to providethe compressed gas to the ring-shaped chamber; and rows of channelsradially distributed about the suctioned air passage wherein thechannels provide a fluid connection for the compressed gas from thering-shaped chamber to the suctioned air passage thereby generating apressure differential along the suctioned air passage and forcing a flowof gas from the main-flow inlet to the main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, a proximal row of the rows of channels is closerto the main-flow inlet than to the main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, the channels within each of the rows of channelsare within a respective gas inlet plane perpendicular to the flow ofgas.

According to an aspect, the ring-shaped chamber comprises an inner facehaving an airfoil profile where a diameter of the suctioned air passagenear the main-flow inlet is smaller than a diameter of the suctioned airpassage near the main-flow outlet.

According to an aspect, the channels have a swirling angle greater thanzero (0) degrees.

According to an aspect, the bladeless fan further comprises a source ofcompressed gas connected to the compressed-gas inlet.

According to an aspect, the source of compressed gas comprises a gascylinder.

According to an aspect, the source of compressed gas comprises acompressor.

Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become moreapparent in light of the following detailed description of selectedembodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will berealized, the subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable ofmodifications in various respects, all without departing from the scopeof the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive and the fullscope of the subject matter is set forth in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view illustrating a bladeless fan forgenerating a directional flow of gas for ventilation, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view illustrating a bladeless fan,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a directionalflow of gas for ventilation, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a bladeless fan with cross-section lines;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a first configuration of channels;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a second configuration of channels;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a third configuration of channels;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a fourth configuration of channels;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a fifth configuration of channels;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the walls forming the ring-shapedchamber along the cross-section lines illustrated on FIG. 4 according toan embodiment in which there is a sixth configuration of channels;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of a bladeless fan assembly mounted tothe interior of a ducting with the external source of compressed gas inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of a bladeless fan assembly mounted tothe interior of a ducting comprising a compressed gas source that usesthe existing airflow in the ducting in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematics of the profile of the walls forming thering-shaped chamber of the bladeless fan parallel to its axis accordingto two embodiments; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a bladeless fanassembly mounted to an air duct.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There is described below a bladeless fan for commercial and industrialapplications.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2 , the bladeless fan 10 comprises a suctioned airpassage 100, which is the void portion within the bladeless fan 10 inwhich the air (aka gas) is drawn and accelerated to generate anaccelerated airflow. The suctioned air passage 100 is defined as a lumenwithin the inner portion of the bladeless fan 10. The lumen of thebladeless fan 10 has a cylindrical shape with open ends at the top andat the bottom.

The bladeless fan 10 has an inner portion defining a inner face 102which forms the lumen defined by cylinder 200. A directional flow ofsuctioned air thus travels through the bladeless fan 10 between amain-flow inlet 360 and a main-flow outlet 370, i.e., in the suctionedair passage 100. Preferably, the suctioned air passage 100 has acylindrical shape.

To generate and accelerate the airflow through the suctioned air passage100, there is provided a source of compressed air, or, more generally, asource of compressed gas 500.

The bladeless fan 10 is adapted to have compressed gas flowing from thesource of compressed gas 500, via a compressed-gas inlet 350, to thesuctioned air passage 100 in a manner that will generate a pressuredifferential along the length of the suctioned air passage 100. Thisarrangement forces an airflow to travel toward the main-flow outlet 370of the suctioned air passage 100. The pressure differential is adaptedto drive the airflow as a typical axial fan would, however without anymobile mechanical parts therein.

To provide the desired pressure differential along the length, and moreparticularly the inner face 102 of the suctioned air passage 100, thebladeless fan 10 comprises a cylinder 200, having a longitudinal axis150, that forms the suctioned air passage 100 (which is the lumen withinthe cylinder 200). This cylinder 200 has a plurality of perforations,e.g., channels 210, provided along the circumference of the cylinder200.

Channels 210 are arranged in rows of channels 210. According todifferent embodiments, there is one or more rows of channels 210distributed about the suctioned air passage and providing a fluidconnection for the compressed gas between the ring-shaped chamber 300and the suctioned air passage 100.

According to an embodiment, a row of channels 210 (aka a first orproximal row of channels 210) is closer to the main-flow inlet 360 thanto the main-flow outlet 370. Still according to an embodiment, theproximal row of channels 210 comprises at least three channels 210distant from each other and within a gas inlet plane perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis 150.

Surrounding the cylinder 200, a ring-shaped chamber 300 acts as anantechamber to the cylinder 200. The ring-shaped chamber 300 is fluidlyconnected to the suctioned air passage 100 through the channels 210. Thering-shaped chamber 300 is adapted to receive a flow of high-pressuregas, aka compressed gas, and to distribute the compressed gas into thesuctioned air passage 100.

This distribution of the flow of compressed gas is made by feeding thecompressed gas to the ring-shaped chamber 300 at a bottom portion, i.e.,near the main-flow inlet 360, via a compressed-gas inlet 350 locatedabout the bottom portion of the ring-shaped chamber 300. The ring-shapedchamber 300 extends upwardly therefrom.

The ring-shaped chamber 300 acts as an antechamber because the chamberis shaped as a hollow ring surrounding the cylinder 200, with channels210 providing fluid connection therebetween providing an entrance forthe compressed gas into the suctioned air passage 100.

Each one of the channels 210 individually extends substantially radiallythrough the wall 213 forming the cylinder 200. The channels 210 traversethe width of the wall 213 and therefore provide a fluid connectionbetween the ring-shaped chamber 300 and the suctioned air passage 100.Each channel 210 has an input opening 211 connected to the ring-shapedchamber 300, and an output opening 212 connected to the suctioned airpassage 100 that is adapted to liberate compressed gas into thesuctioned air passage 100.

According to various embodiments, the channels 210 may be of a circularshape, a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, an oval shape, arectangular shape, or an irregular cross-section.

Similarly, input openings 211 and output openings 212 may take manyshapes, which include for example circular, oval, rectangular, irregularor have the shape of a slot. The shape and size of the input openings211 and output openings 212 of a channel 210 may further be identical ormay differ from each other.

The pressure of the compressed gas feeding two different channels 210depends on the longitudinal coordinates of the channels 210. Asillustrated on FIG. 1 , the longitudinal coordinates correspond to theheight or distance of the channels 210 relative to a pressurized-gasinlet plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 150 of the cylinder200. In other words, the channels 210 have coordinates which correspondto a set of radial and longitudinal coordinates relative to a referencelongitudinal coordinate zero (0) corresponding to the compressed-gasinlet 350. Channels 210 that are closer to the compressed-gas inlet 350,i.e., of smaller longitudinal coordinates, receive compressed gas havinghigher associated pressure since fed with compressed gas first.

Referring to the orientation depicted on FIG. 1 , as the compressed gasflows upwardly in the ring-shaped chamber 300, starting from thecompressed-gas inlet 350 at the bottom thereof, it encounters channels210 and, accordingly, undergoes a corresponding pressure drop as aportion of the pressurized air is diverted into additional channels 210.Thus, the spatial distribution of channels 210 across a range oflongitudinal coordinates through the cylinder 200 generates variablepressures at the output openings 212 of the channels 210. The result isthat the inner face 102 of the wall 213 within the suctioned air passage100 undergoes a pressure gradient along its length with a generallyhigher pressure at the bottom and a continuous decrease of pressureupwardly.

The continuous feed of the channels 210 with compressed gas furtherensures that the gas which makes up the pressure gradient along theinner face 102 of the cylinder 200 is continuously renewed.

According to an embodiment, the size of the channels 210 increases asthe longitudinal coordinate of the channels 210 increases. In otherwords, the channels 210 become bigger as the channels 210 are locatedfarther from the compressed-gas inlet 350. Accordingly, high-speedhigh-pressure jets exist close to the main-flow inlet 360 andlower-pressure jets of lowers speed, but of similar volumetric output,exist closer to the main-flow outlet 370.

The effect of the presence and continuous renewal of this pressuregradient is to draw air in the direction of decreasing pressure, i.e.,upwardly. The upward flow of air along the inner face 102 of thecylinder 200 generated by the pressure gradient draws air upward withinthe suctioned air passage 100, thereby producing an acceleration of theairflow entering through the main-flow inlet 360.

According to an embodiment, the shape of the inner face 102 along whichtravels the airflow from the main-flow inlet 360 to the main-flow outlet370 has an airfoil shape. According to an embodiment, the airfoil shapeof the inner face 102 is designed to optimize the effect of the speedand static pressure of the airflow generated by the jets exiting thechannels 210. In consequence, the airfoil shape of the inner face 102optimizes the airflow exiting the apparatus at the main-flow outlet 370by benefiting from the Coanda effect.

According to an embodiment, the source of compressed gas 500 is a gascylinder. Using a bottle of pressurized gas is advantageous in somecases because it requires no mobile mechanical part anywhere in thebladeless fan 10, including the source of compressed gas 500. Therefore,it minimizes the risks of mechanical failures. The bladeless fan 10 mayeven keep working if there is an electrical power outage, thereforeensuring continuous ventilation of an object or of a location, which canbe very useful in a context where continuous ventilation and/or heatremoval is a critical aspect, for example in a room comprisingheat-generating equipment, or in electronics.

According to an embodiment, a splitter splits the flow of compressed gasfrom a single source, i.e., using a single gas cylinder, to feedsimultaneously a plurality of bladeless fan 10 that ventilate aplurality of areas using the same single source of compressed gas 500.

Alternatively, it is possible to use a compressor, or any other deviceadapted to such purpose, to generate the necessary compressed gas. Sucha solution may be provided by using an appropriate enclosed fan to buildup pressure. Such pressure is used as an input of the compressed gas-fedthrough tubing one or more bladeless fans 10.

The bladeless fan 10 may be used for a variety of purposes. For example,it can be used in an HVAC setting for ventilation. It can also be used,notably, in the ceiling or rooftop of rooms or buildings havingheat-generating equipment, such as industrial facilities or datacenters, thereby forcing airflow in or out of rooms or buildings fluidlyconnected thereto.

By changing the form factor of the bladeless fan 10, the same type ofbladeless fan 10 as described herein may be used in smallerenvironments. For example, it can be installed in electronics toevacuate heat, therefore forming an active heat sink inside theelectronic device having no mechanical parts.

Turning to FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a method for generating adirectional flow of compressed gas for ventilation, the methodcomprising the following steps.

Step 1100: providing a source of compressed gas;

Step 1200: providing a chamber extending in a longitudinal direction,the chamber being closed, the chamber comprising a pressurized-gas inletfor receiving compressed gas, a wall defining a cylinder with aplurality of channels providing a fluid connection through the wall, thechannels being located across a range of different longitudinalcoordinates, and the wall being radially curved on itself to form alumen therein adapted to receive jets of gas through the channels; and

Step 1300: injecting the compressed gas through the pressurized-gasinlet with an initial pressure which is sufficient to force a gas jetthrough the plurality of channels, high-pressure jets flowing throughthose being located close to the pressurized-gas inlet and lowerpressure jets flowing through those at the farthest, thereby generatinga pressure gradient along the wall in the lumen which generates thedirectional gas flow in the lumen.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a bladeless fan 10 with cross-section linesused to determine the cross-section views of FIGS. 5 to 10 which showvarious possible profiles of the walls forming the ring-shaped chamber300 and different embodiments of the rows of channels 210.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a bladeless fan 20 according to an embodimentcomprises a single row of channels 210, wherein the channels 210 extendradially and are located closer to the main-flow inlet 360 than to themain-flow outlet 370. Accordingly, a pressure gradient is generatedbetween the channels 210 and the main-flow outlet 370 accelerating theairflow passing in the cylinder 200 toward the main-flow outlet 370. Thechannels 210 of the bladeless fan 20 have a circular cross-section.

Exemplary bladeless fan 20 further features a variable diameter in itslongitudinal direction providing a particular airfoil profile to theinner face 102 delimiting the suctioned air passage 100. Moreparticularly, the inner face 102 has an airfoil profile where a diameterof the suctioned air passage 100 near the main-flow inlet 360 is smallerthan a diameter of the suctioned air passage near the main-flow outlet370.

Referring to FIG. 6 , another embodiment of a bladeless fan 30 comprisesa single row of channels 210, wherein the channels 210 extendcircumferentially, in other words perpendicularly to the longitudinalaxis 150.

Referring to FIG. 7 , another embodiment of a bladeless fan 40 comprisesa single row of channels 210 having a direction comprising an inwardconstituent and an angular downstream constituent, aka a downstreamangle which is greater than zero (0) degrees, directing the jets atleast partially toward the main-flow outlet 370. According to anembodiment, the downstream angle is of one of at least 10 degrees, atleast 20 degrees, at least 30 degrees, at least 40 degrees, at least 50degrees, at least 60 degrees, at least 70 degrees, and at least 80degrees.

Referring to FIG. 8 , another embodiment of a bladeless fan 50 comprisesa plurality of rows 220 a-d of radial channels 210, wherein at least tworows, and preferably all rows 210 a-d, are not aligned according toplanes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 150. According to arealization, the sizes of the passages, aka cross-section area of thechannels 210 of the rows 220 a-d increase as the rows 220 a-d arefarther from the main-flow inlet 360.

Referring to FIG. 9 , another embodiment of a bladeless fan 60 comprisesa single row of channels 210 oriented to generate a jet direction thatis at an angle greater than zero (0) degrees, aka a swirling angle,relative to an axial plane based on the longitudinal axis 150.

Referring to FIG. 10 , another embodiment of a bladeless fan 70comprises a plurality of rows 220 a-c of channels oriented to generate ajet direction that is at a swirling angle over 0 degrees from a planebased on the longitudinal axis 150. According to an embodiment, theswirling angles of the channels 210 decrease along with an increase oftheir axial coordinate. In other words, the swirling angle is greaterfor the row 220 a (which is close to the main-flow inlet 360), than forthe row 220 c (which is farther from the main-flow inlet 360). Accordingto an embodiment, the swirling angles of at least one channels 210 of arow 220 a-c is one of at least 10 degrees, at least 20 degrees, at least30 degrees and at least 40 degrees. Accordingly, the swirling path ofthe air along the inner face 102 increases the operative path of theinner face 102 (compared to a straight path) without increasing itsphysical length.

According to an embodiment, the channels 210 of at least one of the rows220 a-c have a downstream angle.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the bladeless fan 10 may take manyshapes according to various embodiments, each comprising a ring-shapedchamber 300 enclosed in the cylinder 200 of the bladeless fan 10.According to embodiments, the profile is an airfoil having a variablediameter and variable thickness. According to a preferred embodiment,the thickness of the profile is smaller about the main-flow inlet 360(not identified), and afterward gradually increases and decreases toslowly end with its smallest thickness about the main-flow outlet 370(not identified).

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 14 , an embodiment of a bladeless fan assembly400 (including a bladeless fan 10) is adapted to be mounted into an airduct 600, aka aeration duct of an HVAC system. The bladeless fanassembly 400 is mounted on the inner face 610 of the air duct 600. OnFIG. 14 , the bladeless fan assembly 400 is depicted distant from allwalls of the air duct 600. In the embodiment of FIG. 11 , the bladelessfan 10 is shown mounted after a direction change of the ducting, akaelbow, to accelerate the airflow in the air duct 600 thereafter.

According to an embodiment, the bladeless fan 10, and more precisely theexternal wall 240 of the bladeless fan 10, is mounted using a bracket230, and preferably at least two brackets 230, and more preferably atleast four brackets 230. Preferably, the brackets 230 have an airfoil orrain drop profile shape extending in the direction of the airflow,thereby minimizing their disturbance of the air flowing along thebrackets 230.

The brackets 230 are adapted to have the bladeless fan 10 mounted aboutthe inner face 610, with air upstream being able to travel in thecylinder 200 of the bladeless fan 10 and between the exterior of thebladeless fan 10 and the inner face 610.

The bladeless fan 10, as described before, is adapted to accelerate theairflow travelling in the cylinder 200, i.e., generate an acceleratedairflow. The result is that the bladeless fan 10 also accelerates thesurrounding airflow travelling between the exterior of the bladeless fan10 and the inner face 610 thereby creating an entrained air flow. Sincethe accelerated airflow and the surrounding airflow interact, i.e., mix,downstream from the bladeless fan 10, the speed of resulting airflow isincreased relative to the speed of the upstream airflow.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 , the bladeless fan 10 may be adapted to bedriven with novel compressed gas fed from a source of compressed gas 500located outside the ducting (see FIG. 11 ), or alternatively fromcompressed air collected from the upstream flow and compressed using oneor more fans or impellers fed with air from one or more upstream inlets232 (see FIG. 12 ).

According to embodiments, one previous solution may be better suited toa situation than the other based on the impact of the addition of newgas in the ducting and considering the characteristics of the new gas(e.g., nature, temperature, relative humidity, etc.).

While the embodiments above were described using terms such as upwardly,downwardly, bottom, top, etc., it should be noted that the apparatus maythen be used in other directions such that the upward direction maybecome a lateral or downward direction, or any other intermediatedirection. The apparatus was therefore described as if it was a chimney,as it appears natural to describe it in this direction, but theapparatus may be reoriented otherwise. However, orienting it to have anupward direction of the flow is advantageous as the apparatus maybenefit from the ascending flow of warm air, hence accelerating analready existing upward flow of warm air. This orientation may thereforebe beneficial for this reason when the apparatus is used to remove warmair from a location.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in theart that modifications may be made without departing from thisdisclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variantscomprised in the scope of the disclosure.

1. A bladeless fan comprising: a ring-shaped chamber extendinglongitudinally and defining a suctioned air passage having a main-flowinlet and a main-flow outlet; a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receivecompressed gas and to provide the compressed gas to the ring-shapedchamber; and a proximal row of channels radially distributed about thesuctioned air passage wherein the channels provide a fluid connectionfor the compressed gas from the ring-shaped chamber to the suctioned airpassage thereby generating a pressure differential along the suctionedair passage and forcing a flow of gas from the main-flow inlet to themain-flow outlet, further wherein the proximal row of channels is closerto the main-flow inlet than to the main-flow outlet, wherein thechannels have a swirling angle greater than zero (0) degrees.
 2. Thebladeless fan of claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped chamber comprises aninner face having an airfoil profile where a diameter of the suctionedair passage near the main-flow inlet is smaller than a diameter of thesuctioned air passage near the main-flow outlet.
 3. The bladeless fan ofclaim 1, wherein the channels have a downstream angle greater than zero(0) degrees.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled) 8.The bladeless fan of claim 1, further comprising an additional row ofchannels, wherein the additional row is located farther from themain-flow inlet than the proximal row of channels.
 9. The bladeless fanof claim 8, wherein the compressed-gas inlet is closer to the proximalrow of channels than to the additional row of channels.
 10. Thebladeless fan of claim 8, wherein the channels of the additional rowhave a cross-section area greater than the cross-section area of thechannels of the proximal row.
 11. The bladeless fan of claim 8, whereinthe channels of the proximal row of channels have a first swirlingangle, the channels of the additional row of channels have a secondswirling angle, and the first swirling angle is greater than the secondswirling angle.
 12. The bladeless fan of claim 1, wherein the proximalrow of channels comprises at least three channels distant from eachother and where the at least three channels are within a gas inlet planeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis.
 13. The bladeless fan of claim 1,wherein the proximal row of channels is longitudinally distant from themain-flow inlet.
 14. The bladeless fan of claim 1, wherein thecompressed-gas inlet is closer to the main-flow inlet than to themain-flow outlet.
 15. The bladeless fan of claim 1, wherein thesuctioned air passage has a cylindrical shape.
 16. A bladeless fanassembly for accelerating a flow of gas in a lumen of a heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the lumen having aninner face, the bladeless fan assembly comprising: a ring-shaped chamberextending longitudinally and defining a suctioned air passage having amain-flow inlet and a main-flow outlet; a compressed-gas inlet adaptedto receive compressed gas and to provide the compressed gas to thering-shaped chamber; a proximal row of channels radially distributedabout the suctioned air passage wherein the channels provide a fluidconnection for the compressed gas from the ring-shaped chamber to thesuctioned air passage thereby generating a pressure differential alongthe suctioned air passage and accelerating a first portion of the flowof gas from the main-flow inlet to the main-flow outlet; and at leastone bracket adapted to mount the ring-shaped chamber to the inner faceof the lumen of the HVAC system, wherein a second portion of the flow ofgas travels between the inner face of the HVAC system and thering-shaped chamber, whereby the first portion and the second portion ofthe flow of gas mix downstream of the ring-shaped chamber to generate anaccelerated flow of gas, wherein the channels have a swirling anglegreater than zero (0) degrees.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The bladeless fanassembly of claim 16, wherein the ring-shaped chamber has an inner walldelimiting the suctioned air passage and an external wall opposite thesuctioned air passage, wherein the inner wall and the external wall forma cylindrically shaped airfoil.
 19. The bladeless fan assembly of claim16, further comprising a source of compressed gas connected to thecompressed-gas inlet, wherein the source of compressed gas is locatedoutside the lumen.
 20. The bladeless fan assembly of claim 16, furthercomprising an upstream inlet located within the lumen, the upstreaminlet being fed with compressed gas which in turn feeds the ring-shapedchamber.
 21. A bladeless fan comprising: a ring-shaped chamber extendinglongitudinally and defining a suctioned air passage having a main-flowinlet and a main-flow outlet; a compressed-gas inlet adapted to receivecompressed gas and to provide the compressed gas to the ring-shapedchamber; and rows of channels radially distributed about the suctionedair passage wherein the channels provide a fluid connection for thecompressed gas from the ring-shaped chamber to the suctioned air passagethereby generating a pressure differential along the suctioned airpassage and forcing a flow of gas from the main-flow inlet to themain-flow outlet, wherein the channels within each of the rows ofchannels are within a respective gas inlet plane perpendicular to theflow of gas.
 22. The bladeless fan of claim 21, wherein a proximal rowof the rows of channels is closer to the main-flow inlet than to themain-flow outlet.
 23. (canceled)
 24. The bladeless fan of claim 21,wherein the ring-shaped chamber comprises an inner face having anairfoil profile where a diameter of the suctioned air passage near themain-flow inlet is smaller than a diameter of the suctioned air passagenear the main-flow outlet.
 25. The bladeless fan of claim 21, whereinthe channels have a swirling angle greater than zero (0) degrees. 26.The bladeless fan of claim 21, further comprising a source of compressedgas connected to the compressed-gas inlet.
 27. (canceled)
 28. (canceled)